Question 1(RF)
Meaning of Food in German Culture
In the German culture, foods are used to share an expression of love with one another including celebrating and rewarding children and their accomplishments with food. Many illnesses are treated with beverages and foods, such as ginger ale to relieve upset stomach or indigestion. Many German families still remember the struggles their families endured during the first half of the twentieth century when war times created a mass hunger for millions (Crew, 2018). Many biopolitical issues still revolve around food in some German states and authorities often regulate and control food production, distribution, and consumption of food.
My Cultural Connection to German Fare
My maternal grandfather’s family was from Germany, and I grew up eating a lot of the same meals and given the same foods when I was sick that Purnell (2013) discusses. For example, whenever I was sick, I was offered ginger-ale, then toast, then scrambled eggs. Without fail we were always encouraged to drink ginger-ale with any illness that created upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Pickled eggs, vinegar-soaked cucumber slices, bratwurst with sauerkraut, and veal with mint jelly were also popular items in my grandfather’s home. My grandfather was very conscious about not wasting food, which I believe stemmed from growing up during a time when food was scarce for many including his family, so nothing could be wasted.
Suggestions for Helping Mr. Pfiefer Reduce His Cholesterol Levels
Mr. Pfiefer is 70-years old and a widower of five years. Culturally, Mr. Pfiefer prepares his meals following his late wife’s recipes from the old country, so they are likely made with real creams, butters, bacon fat, and lard (Purnell, 2013). His meals probably include gravies, fried foods, pastries, and sausages that are high in LDL’s.
Nine months ago, Mr. Pfiefer was told that his cholesterol was elevated, and he was educated on switching to a low-fat diet. However, Mr. Pfeifer’s lab results remain unchanged and his cholesterol is still elevated. Mr. Pfeifer’s meals and food preparation techniques are most likely giving him a sense of comfort and a feeling of connection to his deceased wife. He is obviously struggling to make enough changes to his diet that would impact his cholesterol labs.
Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease (Pedersen, 2016). After a thorough assessment, the advanced practice nurse (APN) may need to prescribe a statin for Mr. Pfeifer to help reduce his cholesterol levels through pharmacological therapy. It would be helpful for the APN to see a 24-hour food diary to gain an understanding of the types of foods Mr. Pfeifer eats. After reviewing a food diary, the APN could offer suggestions about alternative ingredients or food preparations to Mr. Pfeifer that would work to reduce his cholesterol levels but still offer the comfort and familiarity of his wife’s recipes. A referral to a nutritionist or dietician who understands German fare may also be beneficial to Mr. Pfeifer.
References
Crew, D. R. (2018). Modern hungers: Food and power in twentieth century Germany. German History, 36(1), 136-138. doi: 10.1093/gerhis/ghx097
Pedersen, T. R. (2016). The success story of LDL cholesterol lowering. Circulation Research, 118, 721-731. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306297
Purnell, L. (2013). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.
Question 2 (CM)
German culture has been influenced and shaped throughout Germany‘s rich history once as an important part of The Holy Roman Empire, and later on as one of the most stable economies in the world. “The people, language, and traditions are what make the German culture unique. It has had a key role in the history of Europe, and not only (Zimmermann 1)”. English speakers call it Germany, Germans themselves call it Deutschland.
Germany is known as the country of poets and thinkers. There are a lot of stereotypes about Germans, as that they drink a lot of beer (which is true), they are hardworking and punctual (which is also true), and that the rate of unemployment in Germany is very low (true again). “German cuisine often has been labeled as stodgy and fatty, which can be attributed to the lack of variety in the rural German countryside until the last 200 years (Zimmermann 2)”. Germany has benefited from a close association with Italy and France and adopted many of their spices and cooking methods, always with a German twist. Today, Germans still fall back on their rich heritage, serving wild game, lamb, pork, and beef with old and new ways of preparing them and their side dishes. Popular spices are mustard, horseradish, and juniper berries, which are found, for instance, in the Luneburg Heath.
Still, modern German chefs have started to create newer, lighter fare, incorporating traditional foods into their menus. Germans are very aware of their health and health care issues. “In Europe, health can be maintained by diet, rest, and exercise (Frankiln 1)”. “Outside sources, punishment for sins, lack of cleanliness, and self-abuse is usually the cause of illness according to the Europeans (Franklin 2)”. Some challenges to health care are lack of understanding of the American health system, health care and insurance in America is not as accessible as it is in Germany.
The beginnings of the German health care system can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when craftsmen were members of guilds. The guilds provided an early form of health insurance based on the principle of solidarity: All guild members paid into a fund which was then used to help individual members if they had financial difficulties, for instance because of an illness. There were also insurance funds organized for factory workers as early as the beginning of the industrial revolution. “These different forms of social insurance were then standardized through Otto von Bismarck’s social policies in the late nineteenth century (German Culture 1)”.
Health insurance was introduced first, in 1883. Its primary goal was to provide insurance in the event of illness, mainly for workers involved in both industrial and non-industrial production. Someone who was insured was granted the right to free medical treatment and medicine, as well as sickness benefits and a funeral allowance. “At that time, about 10% of the population had health insurance – compared to nearly 100% in Germany now (German Culture 2)”. Today, Germans still fall back on their rich heritage, serving wild game, lamb, pork, and beef with old and new ways of preparing them and their side dishes. As a provider, plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking water, eating slowly, and limiting intake of sugar, salt and fat. They also encourage eating plenty of breads, pasta and rice, preferably of the whole grain variety.
References
Franklin, Destiny. Germany’s Health Beliefs. Accessed on 02 August 2020. https://prezi.com/hh30oe51p7ka/germanys-health-beliefs/
German Culture. Healthcare in Germany. Accessed on 02 August 2020. https://germanculture.com.ua/germany-facts/healthcare-in-germany/
Zimmermann, Kim Ann. German Culture: Facts, Customs, and Traditions. Published on 09 March 2018. Accessed on 04 August 2020. https://www.livescience.com/44007-german-culture.html